Much of the area is under a Hurricane Watch due to Eta. Hurricane Eta downgraded to a Tropical Storm Wednesday afternoon southwest of Tampa Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to make landfall north of the Tampa Bay region Thursday. The following counties are under a Tornado Watch until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday:… Read more »
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Floridians are still living in tents 7 weeks after Hurricane Michael
Hundreds of people are still living in a tent city near Panama City nearly seven weeks after Hurricane Michael ravaged the Florida Panhandle; like many of them, Tammy Nichols was evicted from her affordable-income duplex rental in the nearby city of Lynn Haven after it was damaged by the hurricane. “My daughter is disabled and… Read more »

Recovery work begins after Hurricane Michael; here’s how you can help
At least three people have died from Hurricane Michael and recovery efforts have begun, especially in North Florida; for a first-hand account WMNF News spoke with Pearson Bolt in Tallahassee. He’s associated with groups like Democratic Socialists of American and Mutual Aid Disaster Relief. “The storm here in Tallahassee actually wasn’t terrible. It was intense throughout… Read more »

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Puerto Rico’s Slow Recovery Tied to Lack of Statehood
A year ago hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico and the recovery has been slow. Our next guest blames the slow recovery on the lack of political representation in Washington DC that comes with statehood. At least 3,000 people were killed by the hurricane and its aftermath. (Although President Trump denies the death… Read more »

Why Puerto Rico’s death toll from Hurricane Maria is so much higher than officials thought
By Alexis R. Santos-Lozada, Pennsylvania State University “If you don’t get away from those areas, you are going to die.” That statement concluded Puerto Rico Secretary of Public Safety Héctor Pesquera’s press conference before Hurricane Maria. As of Dec. 29, the Department of Public Safety had certified 64 deaths due to Hurricane Maria. Pesquera was one… Read more »

Why hasn’t there been a rush of Puerto Rico voter registrations in Florida?
Since Hurricane Maria devastated parts of Puerto Rico, there has been an exodus of people moving from the island to Florida. NBC News reported that by the end of November the number was more than 200,000. An influx of that many American citizens to Florida could have a big impact on this November’s elections. But… Read more »

Castor & Nelson criticize FEMA & Trump for cutting off Puerto Rico aid
Congress member Kathy Castor is slamming the Trump administration for cutting off emergency supplies like food and water to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. “There’s a very disturbing report out today that the Trump administration is cutting off FEMA supplies of food and water to Puerto Rico, even to areas that do not have potable water and… Read more »

Who are Tampa-area Congress members bringing to State of the Union?
When members of Congress attend the State of the Union they bring a guest; often it’s a symbolic way to advocate for a cause. Here is who Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor told WMNF News her guest will be and why. “My guest to the State of the Union (address) tonight is Brenda Irizarry. You may… Read more »

Only half of Puerto Rico & USVI have electricity now, 3 months after hurricanes
Officials: Nearly half of Puerto Rico clients without power By DANICA COTO, Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico authorities said Friday that nearly half of power customers in the U.S. territory still lack electricity more than three months after Hurricane Maria. Officials said 55 percent of the nearly 1.5 million customers have power,… Read more »

Deadline is this Friday for Floridians to apply for FEMA assistance (Hurricane Irma)
Did your home suffer damage in Hurricane Irma? This Friday, November 24, 2017, is the last day that you can apply for federal disaster assistance. Here’s the FEMA info: You should register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but eligible homeowners and renters may be able to receive money from FEMA for… Read more »

Floridians can get post-Irma food assistance
People who need help paying for food after Hurricane Irma can get federal assistance beginning Sunday in Pasco County; Natalie Harrell, the regional communications director for the Florida Department of Children and Families, says plans are in place to make sure residents can get the help they need despite the chaos and crowds seen at… Read more »

Scientists Study Ways to Reduce Power of Hurricanes
Radioactivity Friday 10 20 17 Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. Coming up— Can scientists develop a method to reduce the destructive power of hurricanes? After the hurricanes causing the deaths of hundreds and devastating property in Texas, Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, St. Maartens and Florida– We’ll talk with an award winning… Read more »

Tampa group brings aid to Puerto Rico; raided by police
The distribution of aid by large nonprofits and governments seems to be failing, but a tiny Tampa-based recovery collective successfully distributed aid to people in need; Dezeray Lyn, with Tampa’s Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, just returned this week from delivering medical and food aid to Puerto Rico. But while there, she and her colleagues were raided by… Read more »

Students from Puerto Rico enrolling in Tampa Bay schools
Since Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico dozens of students have moved to Florida from the American commonwealth and enrolled in public schools here; Pinellas County Schools says as of Tuesday, it had “27 students who registered with our district and voluntarily identified themselves as coming from Puerto Rico.” Sarasota County Public Schools has enrolled 11 students… Read more »